São João em Santarém (PA): uma análise das performances da quadrilha humorística “As virgens do beco”

Abstract

his study investigates the expressions and meanings of laughter in the performances of June gangs classified as humorous in the city of Santarém, Pará. The course of the study starts with the performances of the quadrilha entitled “As Virgens do Beco” (The Virgins of the Alley), taken as the empirical units of investigation. This gang is particularly renowned in Santarém for its ability to mobilize laughable elements, dance and theater in its performances. These are analyzed using an approach based on the anthropology of performance and the study of laughter, in the light of Bakhtin's contributions, especially regarding grotesque realism. The investigation also considers the quadrilha shows as ritualized events, with emphasis on the face-to-face interactions that take place during the performances. The analysis sought to understand the exploitation and meanings of humor in the performances. It emerged that, while some comic parts are predefined, a significant portion of the humor is created improvisationally. Furthermore, this study explores the nuances of laughter and the laughable in the context of the humorous quadrilhas of Santarém. Themes related to the body and sexuality play a prominent role in the skits of this style of June dance, as indicated by the name of the group itself, "As Virgens do Beco".